2.1- Description+ The plants Jamaica cherry (also called Aratiles) is a fast growing tree, 5 to 10 meters high, with spreading branches.+ The leaves Leaves are hairy, sticky, alternate, distichous, oblong-ovate to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 13 centimeters long, with toothed margins, pointed apex and inequilateral base, one side rounded and the other acute.+ The flowers Flowers are about 2 centimeters in diameter, white, extra-axillary, solitary or in pairs. Sepals are 5, green, reflexed, lanceolate, about 1 centimeter long. Petals are white, obovate, 1 centimeter long, deciduous and spreading.+ The fruits Fruit is a berry, rounded, about 1.5 centimeter in diameter, red on ripening, smooth, fleshy, sweet and many seeded. The fruit is edible, sweet, and juicy, and contains a large number of tiny yellow seeds.+ The seeds The fruit contains a large number of tiny (0.5-mm) yellow seeds.

2.2- Origin and Distribution+ Origin Jamaica cherry (Muntingia calabura) is native to southern Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and western South America south to Peru and Bolivia. + Distribution Jamaica cherry or Kerson trees (Muntingia calabura) grows in Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, Indonesia, South America, Japan, Philippines, China, India, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and many other places. It’s also known in the states as Strawberry Tree, Panama berry, Jamaican cherry, Bajelly tree and Singapore cherry… It turns cherry plant can not only be found in Indonesia, but also in other countries like the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and India.

2.3- The Biological characteristics of Jamaica cherry+ Habitat In the Philippines, the trees are commonly visited by different species of birds. It also attracts bats and nocturnal animals that feasts on the sweet juice of the fruit. This aides for the fast widespread propagation of the muntingia in the Philippine forests which sometimes overpopulate an area in just a couple of years. With just enough sun and water, it grows with little or no care. This is apparent in the island of Maldives, where Muntingia, locally known as jeymu grows without any care in very salty sand. The Malaysian common name ceri kampung means "village cherry". In Malaysia the muntingia tree is found in many urban areas lining the sides of streets in front of rows of houses. There, the Muntingia produces great quantities of fruit. It is a pioneer species that thrives in poor soil, able to tolerate acidic and alkaline conditions and drought. Its seeds are dispersed by birds and fruit bats. It is cultivated for its edible fruit, and has become naturalised in some other parts of the tropics, including southeastern Asia. As a pioneer plant, it could help condition the soil and make it habitable to other plants. However, it might also be considered as an invasive species since it might outcompete indigenous plants.

​ + Growing Aratilis or Muntingia calabura grows only in few regions of the world. It can be easily grown and found in South and Central America and few parts of Caribbean. The interesting part about this fruit is that it has several names depending on the countries where it’s grown. You might’ve had the great experience of trying it and you wouldn’t know about it. It is known as Jamaica cherry, Singapore cherry, Panama berry, manzanitas or many more. This is a fast-growing fruit tree, 2 years to be a 3-m tree. After the flowers are pollinated, the berries are fast-growing. Once they ripen, the flowers start to bloom again. After one crop of berries is harvested, the plant continues to flower and produce fruit. The fruit tree will grow for many years.

2.4- Health Benefits of Jamaica cherry fruits+ Introduction Scientifically, the Jamaican Cherry is referred to as the Muntingia calabura. It is a sole specie of the Muntingia genus and is considered as a flowering plant native to the countries mentioned. The fruit is a small one, highly resembling the size of a blueberry. It comes in a green color that turns to red when it has ripened and is ready for consumption. Biting into it and you will discover a juicy, tart taste with an aroma somewhat similar to cotton candy. Its texture, however, feels like there are thousands of minute rice crispy crunchies attached to it.

+ The 12 Health Benefits of the Jamaican Cherry fruits If you want to enjoy eating this fruit, you’ll be surprised that it actually comes with a number of health benefits. Despite its small size, it is able to provide a ton of antibacterial compounds and vitamins needed by the human body. Here are just some of the benefits you can get from eating Jamaican cherries: 1- They are a great pain blocker. The leaves from the Jamaican tree can be turned into tea. Once consumed, it turns into an anti-nociceptive agent that helps block pain receptors from contracting and leading to discomfort. 2- They can lower blood pressure. Part from being a great pain blocker, drinking the leaves of the fruit as tea can help lower blood pressure. This is because it contains nitric oxide that manages to relax the blood vessels. As a result of this, the flow of blood in the body gets improved greatly. 3-They protect against heart attacks. Another use for the tea leaves is to drink them to help protect the hear against heart attacks. This is because the leaves contain properties that prevent inflammation, which could potentially lead to myocardial infarction. 4-It treats abdominal cramps. On the other hand, you can boil the flowers of the tree and drink it as a tea. With its antiseptic properties, it works great as a treatment for abdominal cramps. 5- It lowers blood sugar. Consuming the Jamaican cherry fruit can help in lowering the blood sugar levels of the body. 6- It cures headaches. Both the fruit and tea leaves of the Jamaican cherry are great for treating migraines and headaches.

7-It can treat inflammation and reduce swelling. When drank as a tea, the leaves of the Jamaican cherry can be a great treatment for swelling and for treating inflammation. It also helps in lowering fevers. 8-It contains vitamins and minerals. The Jamaican cherry has been known to contain fiber and plenty of other vitamins and minerals. Through these vitamins and minerals, the individual who consumes the fruit gets to improve the strength of his bones, provide iron for his body, and improve his mood. 9-It treats gout. Over the years, the consumption of Jamaican cherry has been known to help minimize the pain often associated with gout. This is why individuals who have gout have been recommended to consume about 9-12 pieces of the fruit at least three times a day. 10-It is a great anti-oxidant. Because the Jamaican cherry is rich in Vitamin C, the fruit has been discovered as a potent anti-oxidant to fight of flue, colds, and other cardiovascular diseases. Just 100g of the fruit already contains 150mgs of vitamin C. 11-It is a powerful anti-bacterial ingredient. Consuming the fruit can help improve an individual’s health to keep out certain diseases and infections. Because of the many anti-bacterial properties it contains, the fruit has been used to treat Staph infections, P. vulgaris, C. Diptheriae, K. Rhizophil, S. Epidemidis, and other bacteria. 12-It contains anti-cancer properties. Studies show that the leaves of the Jamaican cherry contain anti-cancer abilities. Because of this, they are being extensively studied as a possible cure for treating cancer. Who would have ever thought that this roadside tree could actually contain a number of benefits for individuals who consume its fruits and drink its leaves for tea? Now that there is reason to believe it is good for the health, it definitely deserves the attention and further study to see it as a viable cure for certain treatments. And with this, the future of the Jamaican cherry can only get exciting. Source: Jamaican Cherry: It's Time to Shine Today | Healthy Beauty Journal Asia

3- The Uses of Jamaica cherries

3.1- Food Uses As with any other cherries or berries it can be consumed raw or even better it can be processed into jams. Furthermore, the leaves can be used for making tea. This fruit has a wide range of uses, starting from fish bait (being used in parts of Brazil) up to being eaten for pure pleasure and not being sold for profit (mainly in Indonesia and Philippines). Aratilis not only that tastes great, but it can be highly beneficial to our overall health. In Mexico, the fruits are eaten and sold in markets. The fruits can be processed into jams and the leaves can be used for making tea. In Brazil, the trees are planted along river banks. The fruits falling from the tree attract fish that are then caught. In the Philippines and Indonesia, the fruits are usually eaten mostly by children, although they are not sold in the markets. The skin is slightly tough and often discarded by children.

3.2- Medicinal Uses In traditional medicine, its leaves can be used as an antiseptic or antipruritic and to treat abdominal cramps. Another study claimed that aratilis leaves possess antinociceptive (reducing sensitivity to pain), anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antipruritic properties, justifying the folkloric medicinal use.3.3- Other Uses of Jamaica cherry - In Brazil, the trees are planted along river banks. The fruits falling from the tree attract fish that are then caught. - The timber from what is also known as the Jamaican cherry is reddish brown. It is compact, durable, and lightweight and can be used for carpentry. It could also be used as firewood. - The bark can be used to produce ropes and fiber for bark skirts. - Due to its ability to grow in poor soil and its effective propagation by means of bats and birds, it could be used for reforestation projects. - In India, it is used in urban gardens for its ability to grow fast and attractiveness to small fruit-eating birds such as the flowerpeckers. It is also commonly planted in parking lots. - Wood is compact, fine-grained, moderately strong and light in weight and durable, used for carpentry work. - Fast growing tree that makes for a favorable shade tree.